The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-13
REMARKABLE SURGERY.
Physicians from All Parts of the Country
Witness an Extraordinary Operation.

Physicians from All Parts OF the Country
Witness an Extraordinary Operation.
Louisville Special.
The most important operation ever performed
at the City Hospital took place this morning.
the patient was John B. Sarles, who has been
sufferer from hernia in its worst form for sew
eral months About year ago he strained him
self so severely that the intestines were forced
out of their normal position, and formed sack
two feet in length at the lower extremity of the
abdomen. He was taken to the City Hospital
six weeks ago, and the case was such a remarka-
BILE one that hundreds of physicians from Indi-
ana, Kentucky and Tennessee visited him. The
officers so besieged with inquiries concern
ing the that they had the great protuber-
ance photographed and sent the pictures to the
leading physicians and medical colleges In this
and adjoining States.
A consultation held by the best surgeons
in the city, and it was decided that the patient
had one chance out of two of living If an opera
ton was performed. Although hfty-two years
of age, the patient weighed about 185 pounds
aud was thought to be strong enough to stand
severe operation. Sarles was informed of the
ideas of the doctors concerning an operation.
out the case stated to him little stronger
than it really was He was told that he had but
one chance out of possible three of surviving.
After reflection he concluded to have the opera
ton performed All Yesterday he spent with
his wife, who babe him good bye, perhaps for
the last time, and went home to anxiously
await the result.
On Saturday a tent was placed in the yard,
and Sarles was conveyed to it in order that he
might breathe the pure air and gather strength
for the ordeal This morning he awoke. after
a refreshing sleep, and announced to his attend
ants that he was fully prepared. At 10
o'clock the doctor administered ether,
and in short time the patient
influence Then DR.. Cartilage. who conducted
the operation. had him removed to shady place
and the operation began. Drs Yandell and
Roberts assisted. An incision was first made
extending from the extremity of the ribs on the
right side to the center of the protuberance, q
distance of nearly twenty inches. The loose
skin was cut away, and finally the intestines
were laid bare upon the patients breast After
ward the surplus flesh and abnormal fat were
cut Off and the lieaments sewed together
Then came the difficult task of putting the
intestines back in their proper place. Many
young doctors, all of whom could witness a post
norton with unwavering nerve. turned away
sick at the operation, but the cool headed sur
geons who were conducting it never faltered in
their work At length. after three hours OF the
hardest kind of work, the intestnes were re-
placed, the blood washed from the abdominal
cavity, and the incision was sewed up.
The patient at first breathed regularly and
easily, but as the operation progressed his res
piration came fast and his pulse rose rapidly
An occasional groan was the only evidence he
gave of his suffering. When everything was
finished he was removed to the tent, still under
the influence of the anesthetic, and placed upon
couch. where he will DO carefully watched
over until he dies or RECEIVERS sufficiently to be
removed to the surgical ward.
| The hospital grounds were crowded with ply
sicians from all the neighboring cities. and the
| greatest interest manifested. Many came
| from great distance to see the operation, and
| even the Oldest and most experienced were
forced to confess that they had never seen a case
| that could compare with it in this country. A
| similar operation was successfully performed in
| France a few years ago. In Germany, however.
| where a patient was operated upon for hernia
| in this form. the patient died. The physicians
who witnessed the surgical work say it was per
feet and could not have been improved upon.
It will require about week to determine
whether the patient will live. The physicians
think, however, that his stout constitution will
carry him through, and that with careful treat
| ment he will be able to leave the hospital il
| about month.